Purpose: Many communities lack dental professionals with the knowledge and behavioral skills needed to deliver care to young children (<3 years). This study aimed to examine the impact of an intervention (the Baby Oral Health Program (bHOP)) on dental providers' knowledge, values, confidence and practice behaviors regarding preventive oral health care to young children (<3 years), and assess the feasibility and satisfaction of the bOHP among dental providers in a Canadian community setting.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 24 intervention (4.5 hour workshop, and booster session 1 month following) and 18 control group participants completing pre- and post-surveys.
Results: A significant group interaction effect emerged for value and knowledge (p<0.05), with participants in the intervention group demonstrating significantly higher baseline to post-intervention change scores. No significant group differences were found for confidence and practice behaviors (p>0.05). Mean scores for perceived workshop usefulness and perceived influence on practice were high.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that bOHP is effective in increasing dental professionals' knowledge and values about the importance of preventive oral health among young children. However, consideration to provider's stage of readiness to change and more systems-based approaches to enhancing early oral health interventions should be assessed.
Keywords: behavior; pediatric dentistry; prevention; public health dentistry.
Copyright © 2014 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association.